My chunky monkey

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My chunky monkey; Photos of our clydesdale stud
Topic Started: Jan 15 2009, 02:28 PM (426 Views)
NZ Loopy Lou	Jan 15 2009, 02:28 PM Post #1
Thomas H. Cruise! Posts: 504 Group: Members Member #790 Joined: February 19, 2007	Yesterday we bid a very fond farewell to our lovely 6 year old clydesdale boy. He's off for a couple of years (gulp) to live with a friend of ours up north. He will be broken in and competed in, wait for it, dressage and show hunter. Woot! Should turn a few heads I think. We decided to lease him after we lost our beautiful clydesdale mare and 6 weeks later had to put her orphan foal to sleep. It was such a hard time for us that poor Robbie ended up languishing in a paddock by himself whilst we tried to decide where we were headed in our draft breeding program. We came to the decision that we were not ready to get ourselves a new mare and we did not want to put him over any of our other mares (we have taken a break from breeding anything for ourselves this year and have instead either given the mares a year off or leased them to other breeders in foal to one of our stallions) so we asked around our friends and one of them leaped at the opportunity. It's win:win but I miss him so so much already! I took these photos just before the transporter arrived to take him to his new temporary home and thought I would share with fellow draftie lovers. He's only about 16.2HH and built like the proverbial brick sh*t house (is that a saying in your part of the world?) but for such a large animal he is incredibly agile and athletic. He's a little, er, portly at present too I hope you like the pix



OTF	Jan 15 2009, 05:02 PM Post #2
You're BANNED! Posts: 3,188 Group: Members Member #476 Joined: January 18, 2007	I know what a hard time you've had over the last few months. I think this is a WONDERFUL idea for your boy. He's off to boarding school, a new adventure, a terrific opportunity! Will he be far from where you are, or will you be able to visit and observe his training? That third photo is my favorite...just look at his beautiful expression. I bet he'll do VERY well!



NZ Loopy Lou	Jan 15 2009, 05:20 PM Post #3
Thomas H. Cruise! Posts: 504 Group: Members Member #790 Joined: February 19, 2007	OTF Jan 15 2009, 05:02 PM I know what a hard time you've had over the last few months. I think this is a WONDERFUL idea for your boy. He's off to boarding school, a new adventure, a terrific opportunity! Will he be far from where you are, or will you be able to visit and observe his training? That third photo is my favorite...just look at his beautiful expression. I bet he'll do VERY well! Thank you for the support! It means a lot. It was a really tough decision but made for the horse and I am sure he will revel in his new surroundings. Unfortunately he will be a very long way from us. In fact his trip is being spread over three days so that he gets breaks in between (and he was not picked up until 7pm last night so was going to bunk down in a stable about 3 hours from our place). He's never been in a stable so I hope he is ok with it (and I hope he fits!). He fair marched up the ramp on to the enormous horse carrier that came to collect him. The chap had only one bay for him (truck was empty so he had the whole thing to himself) and our conversation went like this ... Me "Are you only going to give him the one bay then? " Him "Yeah, they're really generous bays, she'll be right mate " Robbie "Hmm, this is a bit cramped and not sure I like it, think I will sit down instead..." Him "OK, perhaps two bays would be a good idea after all!" Me "No kidding! " So, it will be photo and email/phone call updates and I hope to be able to fly/drive up to see him at least a couple of times. I hope he is ok. We have him insured up to the eyeballs just in case but I would never forgive myself if anything happened to him while he was away. I am sure he will be ok. He's a big tough cookie and I trust the friend he has gone to - I would never in a million years have sent him if I had any qualms about her. Should be a hoot to see them together. She's about 5'2"



OTF	Jan 17 2009, 07:26 AM Post #4
You're BANNED! Posts: 3,188 Group: Members Member #476 Joined: January 18, 2007	Awww, too bad Robbie will be so far, but photos and phone calls are better than nothing! You MUST share the pictures you receive so we can see what he's up to. Yeah, I think 2 bays in the trailer was a good idea! He sat down? So, he's never been ridden at all? Well....he's six, right, so maybe all the sillies are out of his system, and being a draft, he's probably pretty laid back anyway. You can see it in his face. Such a big, handsome fella. I know you're anxious, but once he gets there safe and sound and settles in, you'll breathe better. Can't wait for news of Robbie's great adventures.



Witchy	Jan 17 2009, 08:42 AM Post #5
Is the meadow on fire? Posts: 1,675 Group: Members Member #547 Joined: January 22, 2007	Robbie is stunning. What a cool boy. I love the picture of him yawning. It looks like he is laughing.



NZ Loopy Lou	Jan 17 2009, 07:31 PM Post #6
Thomas H. Cruise! Posts: 504 Group: Members Member #790 Joined: February 19, 2007	He's been mouthed and we have backed him but he's not what I would call broke. Backed yes, broke, no. But he does have a very cruisy nature and I am sure he will take it all in his ample stride. He has apparently arrived unscathed and none the worse for his trip - a little excited and possibly overwhelmed to be in a new place but just fine. I am waiting for some photos now



MissBri	Jan 18 2009, 08:06 AM Post #7
Cead Mile Failte ! ! SLAINTE! Posts: 4,013 Group: Members Member #973 Joined: April 20, 2007	Loopy, so good to see you back posting! Robbie is stunning - he has such a soft and soulful eye - generations of knowledge in them. Please do keep us updated with photos and tales of his adventure! More hugs to you and Mr Loopy



zbar	Jan 19 2009, 05:42 PM Post #8
Is the meadow on fire? Posts: 1,982 Group: Members Member #661 Joined: January 28, 2007	Oh NZ he is beautiful! You did a great thing to send him to your friend. He will definately turn heads in the dressage ring, I get comments all the time on mine and how unique it is to see a clyde doing dressage, the judges just love her. Mine is small too measuring 16.3, and I too am 5'2" but I have had more than one person say how they just pictured the horse overwhelming me but it actually turned out to be a perfect fit. ( if you like I will post a pic for you of me on her) Wonderful that he arrived safely in his new home. The pics are lovely and he has such a kind and gentle eye in the photo. Cant wait to see more pics of him.



NZ Loopy Lou	Jan 20 2009, 01:15 AM Post #9
Thomas H. Cruise! Posts: 504 Group: Members Member #790 Joined: February 19, 2007	zbar Jan 19 2009, 05:42 PM if you like I will post a pic for you of me on her Yes please!! You have to ask, haha! Interestingly, I sold one of Rob's daughters (a full clydesdale too) recently to a dressage rider who has long harboured a dream to produce a purebred clydesdale through the dressage grades. She has got her current mare (1/2 clydesdale) to Level 5 and has had Horse of the Year placings with her and she is getting better all the time so, if anyone can do it, I reckon Kim can! Now, show me pix!!! Thanks for the support guys - it was such a big deal, it is nice to be reassured that it was the right decision



zbar	Jan 20 2009, 05:44 AM Post #10
Is the meadow on fire? Posts: 1,982 Group: Members Member #661 Joined: January 28, 2007	hehe well normally I would have just done it but you sound so proud of robbie (as you should be) that I did not want to take away from that. Ok here are a few



NZ Loopy Lou	Jan 21 2009, 12:47 AM Post #11
Thomas H. Cruise! Posts: 504 Group: Members Member #790 Joined: February 19, 2007	Awww, thanks for sharing - she's really very pretty and you two look great! So nice to see the drafties out under saddle as well as being driven. I have decided to take my 2yo filly to our big annual show. It is in about three weeks - so I made my decision quite late, haha! She is Robbie's daughter and the first purebred we bred out of our beautiful mare Debi (RIP). She has some very big hooves to fill (literally as well as figuratively) but I won't put any pressure on her as the outing is to be for experience only. She is a sensitive 'little' girl but has her mother's same food drive (I suspect you draft folk know ALL about food drive, haha) so we should be able to work around any wee issues we encounter. Today I dragged her out of the paddock and gave her her very first bath - tomorrow she will lose about 2' off her tail and be curried to within an inch of her life ... and, so it begins! Here she is today in all her sunbleached, unkempt, pre-bath glory:



zbar	Jan 21 2009, 05:42 AM Post #12
Is the meadow on fire? Posts: 1,982 Group: Members Member #661 Joined: January 28, 2007	It will be a great experience for her to go! she is very pretty ! I Have noticed as long as I have a hand (literally) on Belle she is calmer. Her first show she was all goosey walking around, but if I kept m hand on her she relaxed, and then when I got on she was even better. IS your filly a black or grey?



jillintexas	Jan 21 2009, 10:54 AM Post #13
You're BANNED! Posts: 7,610 Group: Members Member #96 Joined: January 6, 2007	Beautiful! Love him (and Z's loverly lady too of course!!)



NZ Loopy Lou	Jan 21 2009, 01:28 PM Post #14
Thomas H. Cruise! Posts: 504 Group: Members Member #790 Joined: February 19, 2007	zbar Jan 21 2009, 05:42 AM IS your filly a black or grey? She's black, like her Mom but has more ticking that Debi had (and a LOT less than her Da!). I can't wait to ride her! Bet she is going to be very 'busy' and forward just like her dear Mom was



jillintexas	Jan 21 2009, 03:00 PM Post #15
You're BANNED! Posts: 7,610 Group: Members Member #96 Joined: January 6, 2007	THe filly is gorgeous too, Lu! Really lovely. If she looks that good BEFORE her bath, I'll bet she is blinding now. Keep us posted on Robbie. Sounds like a good thing for everyone.



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